Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '2. A. v. KISER. CORN HARVBSTERL- (No Model.) 4 Sheets'fSheiet 3. 5

A. V.l KIS'EVR; A CORN HARVESTER.

Pzanmntedl NOV. '15, 1892.

' I al EN l@ n, ,lummmmm m 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(Nov Model.)

A. V. KISER. CORN HARVESTER.'

,255'. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.

me/'whew and forming devices.

NITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIE V. KISER, OF WEST LIBERTY, OHIO.

CORN-HARVESTER. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,255, dated November 15, 1892. Application filed March 3l, 1892. Serial No. 427.166. V(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that 1, ALVIE V. Krsna, a citizen of lthe United States, residing at West Liberty, in the county of Logan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oorn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-harvesters; and it especially relates to improvements on that class of machines shown and described in my Letters Patent, No. 459,006, issued September 8, 1891.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan of the same, some of the parts which would appear in duplicate being omitted or broken away for perspicacity. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the same. Fig. 4 is adetail view in elevation of the shock supporting Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the same. Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of aportion of the shock raising and discharging device. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views 0f the packers and their adjusting mechanism.` Fig. 10 is a detail ofthe cutting apparatus; Fig'. 11 is a partial plan view showing the adjusting devices for the packers. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the guiding mechanism in detail. Figs. 13 and 14 are respectivel y an elevation and plan ofthe revolving yielding fingers forming a portion of the carrying mechanism for the cut stalks. Fig. 15 is a detail View of a portion of the packeradjusting mechanism. Fig. I6 is a detail View in section of a portion of the shock-forming post. Fig. 17 is a detail showing the pivotal connection between the respective parts of the frame. Fig. 1S is a detail view in section of the two-part supporting-post forminga portion of the shock-forming mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, A A represent the main frame, from Which all the operating parts are supported. This frame is supported at each side on carrying-Wheels B B, which also serve to impartthe motive power to drive the different operative parts, as hereinafter more fully specified. The front portion of the frame is further supported by an adjustable supporting-wheel B2, which also serves as a guiding-wheel, means being furnished, as hereinafter more fully specified, by which the angular position of said wheel may be changed to cause the machine to change direction.

The power to drive the machine is applied at the rear ot the main wheels B B', preferably through the medium of a tongue O, provided with suitable trunnions a a, pivoted in bearings a a', formed in the main frameAA. 65 The tongue C is connected at the rear to a projecting L-shaped auxiliary frame A2, which is pivoted to the main frame, as shown in Fig.

17, and extends backwardly from the said` main frame at one side of the machine-only 7o and is supported at the rear by a caster- Wheel B3. The power to drive the machine may be supplied to the tongue O by horses or otherwise through the medium of a doubletree C in an ordinary manner.

Arranged above the main frame A A and supported thereon, preferably between the supporting and driving wheels B B', is a revolving table D, on which the cut stalks are gathered and formed into a shock. of this table and arranged flush therewith is a small platform E, which is branched outwardly and forwardly into passages E E2, along and over which the cut stalks are carried in theirpassage from the cutting-knives, 85

hereinafter more fully described. TheI cutters F are arranged at the outer and for-Y` ward ends of these extended passages, asJ-j` shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cutters onf-onevg'r side of the machine only being shown ingo Fig. 2. Arranged along oneside of each of the passages E E2 is a series of, conveying-` l chains E3, each chain of a series being arranged vertically above the other and pro-y videdwith suitable engaging-teeth to engage .95 the stalks and carry them along said passage. Two of these chains are preferably used on each side of the machine, one adapted to engage the stalks near the bottom and the other the upper part of said stalks. These chains `ico pass over suitable sprocket-wheels at each end and receive their motion from fvertical driving-shafts b b, which support the'chains in the rear, the front of said chains being In front 8o preferably supported on loose sprocket-wheels b2 b3, mounted in suitable bearings on the projecting portions of the frame. The carrying-chains E3 operate in conjunction with stationary guide-bars E4, arranged on the opposite side of the passages from said chains, said guide-bars being' extended forwardly and outwardly in the form of fingers E5, opposing fingers E6 being also provided which extend inwardly and forwardly from a point near the outer support of the carrying-chains, so as to form a V-shaped opening or passage into which the uncut stalks are directed as the machine advances. The cutters F are located immediately below the said projecting fingers and are preferably operated directly from the driving-wheel B' by adrivingchain F', which passes over a suitable sprocketwheel F2 on said Wheel, thence over the sprocket-wheels c c and the idlers or tighteners c2 c3. The sprocket-wheel c is located on the shaft F3, which carries the cutters, which shaft extends entirely across the machine near the front and carries both the cutters F, located on opposite sides of the machine, so as to cut two rows of standing stalks at one operation as the machine advances.

'lhe cutters F consist, essentially, of pivotedknives d, having at each end suitable journals or trunnions d', journaled in end plates d2, rigidly secured to the shaft F3, so as to revolve therewith. journals of each of the cutting-knives extend through the end plate, which supports it, and is provided on the outside of said end plate with a rigidly-secured cross bar or lever cl3, the projecting ends of which operate between lugs or projections d4, formed on said end' plate. These lugs are so arranged that a limited movement of the knife is permitted upon its truunions or journals between the respective lugs. A small spring d5, bearing against the projecting arm or lever d3, holds said knife in its normal position with the outer edge of the knife slightly inclinedin the direction in which the knife revolves. The result of this construction is to provide a limited rotary movement of the `formedby guides E5 EG, and thus come in contact with the cutting-knives, and particularly the down stalks,lprovide at each sideof each of the cutting-knives an elevating and carrying chain G G. These chains extend downwardly One or both of the and forwardly at an angle and are supported at the top by a transverse shaft G2. The inner guiding-chains G are supported at the bottom by a transverse shaft G3, journaled in suitable bearings e, supported on extended portions of the main frame. The outer conveying or carrying chains G are supported at the bottom by loose sprocket-wheels e', supported on extended portions of the frame. The transverse shaft G2 is supplied with suitable sprocket-wheels e2 to support and drive said chains, one sprocket-Wheel being used for each chain. The shaft G2 receives its motion from a parallel shaft G4 in a lower portion of the main frame, which shaft is driven by the sprocketwheel c from the main driving-chain F', before referred to, motion beingconveyed from the shaft Gi to the shaft G2 by a drivingchain G5, which passes oversuitable sprocketwheels e3 e4 on the respective shafts. The shaft G4 is provided at its inner end with a beveled gear e5, which meshes ivitha corresponding gear eG on the vertical shaft b,which carries the con veying-chaius E3 at one sideof the machine. This vertical shaft b is also provided with a sprocket-wheel c7, which transmits motion to a driving-chain es, which passes over idlers or tighteners e, thence over and around sprocket-wheels em, c, and el?. The sprocket-Wheel ew is located on the bottom of the shaft b', which drives the other series of carrying-chains E3. The respective sprocket-wheels e and cl2 are located at the bottom of vertical shafts b4 b5, extending upwardly through the platform near a point where the respective passages E E2 join the main platform E. are provided with a series of yielding fingers h6, adapted as the shafts are revolved to be moved across the respective passages E E2 and engage thestalks conveyed by the carrying-chains e2 e3 and pack the same into the space between the guiding-bars E4 on the main platform E, from whence they are delivered onto the revolving table D by oscillating packers H, in the manner hereinafter more fully described, These yielding fingers o are formed, preferably, of steel Wire or other resilient metal and are connected at their inner end by a suitable hub-to the revolvingshaft and project outward therefrom, their resilience being increased by producing a coil 197 in each of said fingers.

The revolving table D is supported underneath by suitable supporting-Wheels f, journaled on suitable studs or bearings f 011 the main frame, the table D being provided on its under surface with a` circular track f2, which rests on said supporting-Wheels. As the machine advances the table is continuously revolved through the medium of a Worm f3, which engages with a worm-gearj4, connected to said table at the bottom, the Worm f3 being driven by a sprockebchainf, which passes over a suitable sprocket-wheel f on the worm-shaft and a drivingsprocket f7 on a transverse shaft f8, which extends entirely These vertical shafts b4 l)5` ICO IIO

across the main frame A A at the bottom. This shaft f8 receives its motion from the master-wheel B through the medium of a sprocket-driving chain ff and suitable sprocket-wheels f10 f11 on the shaft and masterwheel, respectively. By the use of the wormgear, as described, a very slow but continuous movement is secured for the table D as the machine advances.

At each side of the main frame, slightly in advance of the table D, are vertical crankshafts g g ,supported at. or near their respective ends in suitable bearings in the main frame. Each of these crank-shafts g g is provided at its lower end with beveled gears g2 g3, which mesh with similar gears f12 f13 on the transverse shaft f8. The crank-shafts g g are each provided with two cranks g4 g5, to

`which are journaled the rear ends of the oscillating packers H. The packers H are formed of metal, preferably in the nature of an open frame, the side pieces 7L 7L of which may be formed of round iron or heavy wire joined together at the respective ends. One of the side pieces 7L of each packer extends through an eye or opening h2 in a movable bearing h3. These bearings h3 are eachjournaled on an upright shaft h1, supported in movable bearings h5, adapted to move laterally in curved slotted supporting and guiding yokes h6, secured to the main frame. This movable shaft h4 is connected at the top and bottom bya pivoted link h1 to projecting arms ha, secured to a vertical shaft hg, supported in the main frame parallel with and in close proximity to the crank-shafts g g'. Each of the vertical shafts hg is provided at or near its lower end with a crank-arm h10, the respective crank-arms of the different shafts extending in opposite directions. These crank-arms are connected together by a transverse bar or rod 7t11, so that a partial rotary movement imparted to one shaft will be transferred to the other shaft, but in the opposite direction. One of. the shafts 7t9 is further provided with a ratchet-Wheel 71.17, adapted to be engaged by a pivoted pawl k12 on the end of a vibrating lever 7t18, pivoted at 7t13 and extended under the table D in the line of travel of a projecting stud or pin 7t11 in the bottom of said table, so that as the said tableD makes a complete revolution the said stud or pin contacts with the projecting lever 71,18, causing the said lever to be moved thereby, which movement is transmitted by the pivoted pawl k12 and its ratchet-wheel to the vertical shafts 71,9. As soon as the stud 7114 has passed the lever 7118 said lever is returned to its normal position by a spring 7t15, While the respective vertical shafts are held from returning in the opposite direction by a pawl 7t16, pivoted on the main frame and adapted to engage with the ratchet-wheel 7L and prevent its movement except in a forward direction. This movement of the respective vertical shafts produces a corresponding movement of the supporting-bearings of the oscillating packers, so that at each revolutionof the table a variation in the travel of the free ends of said packers is secured. j

Located centrally on the revolving tableD is the shock-supporting post I, preferably formed of angle-iron and supported at the bottom in a socket j at the center of the table D. This post I is made of two parts j 3'2, secured together so as to telescope one with the other. This result is secured by the following construction: Near the top of the lower part j of the post is secured a supporting frame or band I, adapted to entirely surround the post I and embrace both parts j 3'2 thereof. The inside of this band or frame is formed to correspond to the angular shape of the respective parts of the angle-iron post l. This frame or band is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower portionjof the post I, the upper portion j2 being adapted to slide through said band or frame in contact with the lowerportion j. This band or frame is provided with projecting lugs or ears js, to`

which are hinged projecting arms f, which are each supported in a normally-horizontal position by brace rods or ropes j, which extend upwardly from said arms and connect with the upper portion t7'2 of the post I.. I have shown this band or frame I', formed in parts adapted to be held together by connecting-boltsj, which form the hinged connections for the arms j1. It is obvious, however, that the said frame may be made integral, if desired. Located on one side of the frame or band I', hinged between suitable projecting lugs or ears '7, is a ivoted bell-crank arm or C lever js, provided with a downwardly and backwardly extending finger j, which extends through saidframe and the respective parts j j2 of the postI, and thus holds the telescoping parts of said post in their normal position.- An upward movement of the outer end of said lever, however, withdraws said finger and permits the parts to telescope one with the other. In addition to the projecting arms l7'1 I also provide yielding arms jm, preferably formed of spring-wire or other suitable mabeam J 2, the outer extremity of which is connected to the main frame by a rope J3, of a certain definite length to hold the shockforming. devices in their proper position, and arranged at an angle to said beam and post, as described in my previous patent, above referred to. Thetwo-part shock-supporting post ICO IIO

I is connected to the opposite end of said beam by a rope J 4. An open flexible ring J 5, arranged above the yielding fingers jm, is also supported from the end of said beam by suitable supportingropesj, the said open ring being adapted to receive and supporttheupper ends of the incoming stalks, in the manner set forth in my said patent referred to. An operating rope or cordj, attached to the bell-crank lever js, passes up over a suitable supporting-pulley j13 on said beam, thence back and downwardly over a supporting-pulley j at the center of said beam, and is connected to the supporting-post J, in convenient reach of the operator.

The front supporting-wheel B2 is a guiding-wheel and Ais adapted to be operated by a hand-lever 70, located in proximity to thc seat K. This operating-lever 70 is pivoted at 70' to the main frame and is attached at its lower extremity to a con nectin g-rod 702, which extendsunder the main frame aud-as attached at its forward end to a vertical lever 703, pivoted at 704 to a suitable supporting-stand on the main frame, and connected at its other end by a rod 705 to a cross-bar 706, connected to the pivoted hanger of the guiding-wheel B2. The lever 703 is further connected by a pivoted cross-bar 707 to a vertical lever 708, the upper extremity of which is connected by a rod 709 to the opposite end of the cross-bar 706cm the wheel-hanger, the construction being such that a movementin either direction of .the lever 703 produces a corresponding movement in the opposite direction of the lever 708, thus turning the guiding-wheel in either direction to cause the machine to change direction.

The operation of the machine as -thus described is as follows: As the machine advan ces,the corn enters into the V-shaped openings to the cutting `knives, being assisted by the downwardly and forwardly extending and carrying chains. The stalks are severed by the revolving knives and passed backwardly through the passages E E2, and are carried by the conveying-chains E3 and the revolving fingers 726 to the main platform,

Where they are engaged by the reciprocating packers and forced onto the platform D between the respective pivoted arms j* of the shock-forming post. When the machine is iirst started, the variable supporting bearings lof the oscillating packers are placed so as to give to said packers the greatest possible movement, enabling said packers to carry the stalks onto said table and deposit them within the ring J 5 against the extending radial arms of the shock-forming post. At each revolution of the table the variable bearings for the said packers are movedback one notch through the operation of the pivoted lever 72,18 and the pawl and ratchet connected thereto, which, through the medium of the vertical shafts hi and the extending arms hs and link hl, cause said bearings to move laterally in the yoke h6, and thus change small roller Z is raised above the cam-shaped track l at the top of said post, thus raising the shock clear of the platform, when by the peculiar angular arrangement of the support ing-rod J3 the shock will be swung backwardly and laterally to a position at the side of the machine, `the small roller 7 following the camshaped track Z', which is made to conform to the movement of the swinging beam J2,as determined by the angularly-arranged rope attached thereto, the camshaped track being adapted to assist in guiding and supporting the said beam in its movement about the supporting-post, caused by the weight of the shock, when the operator by drawing on the cord j12 disconnects the respective telescoping parts of the post, thus permitting the pivoted arms to drop down by the weight of the shock until they are withdrawn therefrom, after which the parts are replaced and the operation repeated, this operation of discharging being substantially the same as that described in my former patent referred to.

To provide for returning the supportingbearings of the oscillating packers to their normal position after the shock hasbeen discharged, I preferably employ springs h1", connected atone end to the main frame and at the other end tothe supporting-shafts 7a4. As the supporting-shafts and their bearings are moved in the slotted openings in the `main frame to change the throw of the packers, as before described, the springs hware changed. When the operation is completed and the shock discharged, these various parts are returned to their normal position by the elasticity of the springs 7L19 when the pawls 7L12 and h1 are released. l

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claiml. In a harvester, a revolving table, a reciprocating packer pivotally connected at one end to a revolving crankshaft, and a movable pivot to change the travel of said packer, said movable pivot being operated by the rotation of said table,substantially as specified.

, 2. In a harvester, a revolving table and a reciprocating packer,a revolving crank-shaft connected to the end of said packer, a movable pivot for said packer, and operating mechanism between said table and movable pivot to successively move said pivot at each revolution of said table, substantially as specified.

3. In a harvester, a revolving table and a reciprocating packer, a revolving cran k-shaft pivotally connected to said packer, and a movable pivot intermittently operated by the revolution of said table to automatically cha-nge the travel of said packer, substantially as specified.

IOO

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4.` In a harvester, the reciprocating packers each supported on a movable pivot-support and connected to a revolving crank-shaft= a revolvlng table adjacent to said packers, and means, substantially as described, for intermlttently and simultaneously moving the pivotal supports of said packers by the revolution of said table, substantially as specified. 5. In a harvester, the continuously-revolving table, reciprocating packers operating adjacent to said table, movable pivot-supports for said packers, laterally-moving supportingshafts to which said pivot-supports are pivotally connected, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism attached to said shafts, and means, substantially as specilied, for operating said pawland-ratchet mechanism from the revolving table to produce an intermittent lateral movement of said shafts at each revolution of said table, substantially as specified.

6. In a harvester,a continuously-revolving table, reciprocating packers operating adjacent to said table, movable pivot-supports for said packers, vertical shafts having crankarms pivotally connected to said movable supports, said shafts being connected together so as to move simultaneously,a ratchet-wheel on one of said shafts, and a pawl to engage said ratchet, a projecting arm attached to said pawl and adapted to be engaged by a projection on the revolving table at each revolution thereof, and thus change the position of said movable pivot supports, substantially as specied.

7. In a harvester, a continuously-revolving table, reciprocating packers adjacent to said table, pivotally connected to continuously-revolving crank-shafts, a supporting-shaft to which is pivotally connected supporting-pivots for said packers, said shaft being supported in laterally-moving bearings in the frame of said harvester, an operating-shaft in proximity to said supporting-shaft, said operating-shaft being provided with projecting arms pivotally connected to said supportingshaft, a ratchet-wheel on said operating-shaft, a pivoted lever having a pawl to engage said ratchet-Wheel, said pivoted lever being extended under said moving table and adapted to be moved by a projection on said table so as to produce a limited movement of said operating-shaft at each revolution of said table, substantiallyas specified.

8. In a harvester, reciprocating packers pivotally connected at one end to a revolving crank-shaft, a supporting-shaft having moving pivotal supports for said packers, said shaft being supported in laterally-moving bearings in the harvester-frame, operatingshafts connected by a link connection to said supporting-shafts, and means, substantially as described, for intermittently moving said operating-shafts to change the throw of said packers, substantially as specified.

9. In a harvester, a reciprocating packer formed of one or more metal strands, one of which is slidingly journaled in a movable pivot-support, a revolving crank-shaft, to which said packer is pivoted, supportingshafts, to which the movable pivot-supports are pivotally connected, laterally-moving bearings forsaid su pporting shaft, and means, substantially as described, for producing a lateral movement of said supporting-shaft, and thus vary the throw of said packer, substantially as specified. i

10. In a harvester, a revolving table anda central detachable post,said post being formed of two telescoping parts, to one of which parts cling band or frame at the upper extremity of one part, adapted to pivotally support projecting radial arms and to form asliding connection with the remaining part of said post, brace connections from said radial arms to the movable part of said post, and a detachable connection between the respective parts of said post whereby a telescoping movement of said post causes the depression of said arms, substantially as specified.

l2. In a harvester-cutter, a revolving shaft having supporting-heads thereon, pivoted knives in said supporting-heads, projecting fingers connected with said knives, and lugs or projections on said heads to engage with said fingers, and springs between one or more of said lugs and said lingers, substantially as specified.

13. In a cutter for harvester-knives, a revolving shaft having supporting-heads thereon, a pivoted knife or knivesin said supporting-heads, and a finger' connected to each of said knives, stationary projections or lugs to limit the movement of said fingers, and a spring between said fingers and lugs to permit alimited yielding movement of said knife or knives in the said head, substantially as specified.

14. In a harvester,a pivoted supporting and guiding Wheel having a laterally-projecting arm connected centrally to the journal or pivotal support of said guiding-Wheel, pivoted levers connected to the opposite ends of said laterally-projecting arm, a centrally-pivoted arm pivotally connected to each of said pivoted levers, and means for producing a movement of one of said pivoted levers, substantially as specified.

l5. In a harvester, a main frame, a movable supporting-shaft journal'ed in bearings, said bearings being slidingly suppprted in slots in said main frame, a pivot on said supporting-shaft, and a movable packer slidingly connected to said pivot, a crank-shaft for operating saidvpacker, and means for moving said supporting-shaft and its bearings in the IOO IIO

slotted openings in said frame to produce a diminishing movement of said packer, substantially as specied.

16. In a harvester, movable packers, each pivotally connected at one end to a revolving cran kshaft, a supporting-shaft having a moving pivotal support for each of said packers, said shaft being supported in laterally-moving bearings in the harvester-frame, operating-shafts having projecting arms, each connected by a link connection to one of said supporting-shafts, a paWl-and-ratchet movement for intermittently moving one ot' said operating-shafts, and a connecting-rod from said operating-shaft to the other operatingshaft, substantially as specified.

17. In a harvester, a shock-forming table or platform having a central detachable supporting-post, an oscillating beam connected at one end to said detachable post. and secured to the frame at the other by a norma1ly-stationary connecting-rope arranged at an angle to the plane of the central supporting-post, an extensible supporting-post for said beam, and a track or Way ou said beamsnpporting post, adapted to release and guide said beam when its supporting-post is elevated, substantially as specified.

18. In a harvester, the oscillating shock discharging beam pivoted centrally to a supporting-post and connected to the frame at one end by a normally-stationary rope arranged at an angle to the plane of the supporting-post, a connection from the opposite end ot' said beam to the shock supportingand discharging device, and a guiding and supporting track on said supporting post, adapted to normally retain and guide said beam, substantially as specified.

19. In a harvester, the main frame having atongue pivotally connected to the rear thereof, a projecting L-shaped auxiliary frame extending backwardly from the main frame at one side of said tongue and connected thereto at the rear, said auxiliary frame being hinged to the main frame, substantially as specified.

20. In a harvester, the main frame, abackwardly-extending tongue pivotall y connected thereto, a projecting L -shaped auxiliary frame extending backwardly from the main frame and connected to the rear end of said tongue, said auxiliary frame being pivoted to the main frame and supported at the rear by a caster-Wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of March, A. D. 1892.

ALVIE V. KISER.

IVitnesses:

PAUL A. STALEY, FRANK WATT. 

